OFFICIAL UK LAUNCH
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JOST UK’S AUTOMATIC COUPLING SYSTEM HAILED A GAME CHANGER JOST GB Ltd recently held the official UK launch of the innovative JOST KKS automatic coupling system at Donington Park; Export & Freight’s Phil Eaglestone went along to find out more. Customers were able to see the award winning KKS in action showcasing the benefits that this system offers; it enables the driver to couple and uncouple via remote control providing a key component for autonomous driving and the future of logistics. Customer feedback has already been positive. Comments Phil Moon, Marketing Manager at DAF Trucks UK: “My overall impression of the KKS is how simple it is, coupling and uncoupling trailers, and being able to do that from the drivers’ seat. So eliminating a lot of the risk areas associated with what can be a quite hazardous task. Technological solutions like the KKS help to move the transport industry forward in terms of improving productivity, efficiency and safety, particularly of drivers.” As a world-leading producer and supplier of safety-critical systems for the commercial vehicle industry, JOST is the specialist for components that link trucks and trailers, and this link is now being revolutionized with its new KKS automatic coupling system which will clearly help operators increase efficiency, convenience and safety with one single product. As we all know, coupling and uncoupling
a trailer is still a lengthy, expensive and hazardous procedure. The truck driver has to be aware of many different things, each of which are time-consuming and pose a hazard to health and safety. According to figures from the DGUV (German Social Accident Insurance), professional truck drivers suffer falls quite often. Simply getting in and out of the cab can result in such an accident, potentially causing injury. As the global market leader for fifth wheel couplings and landing gears, JOST’s launch of the KKS represents a smart solution for the future of coupling. And as already mentioned, it is easy to use. The driver is guided through the coupling process, with sensors providing live information on the KKS remote control throughout every step of the process. With the KKS, the driver no longer needs to climb out from the cab, crank down the landing gears, climb behind the cab, unplug the spiral cables and pull the fifth wheel open when uncoupling. Instead, the Modul E-Drive electric landing gears automatically deploy at the push of a button and the fifth wheel is unlocked remotely. This eliminates the danger caused by climbing on
and off the catwalk, as the spiral cables for air, electrics and ABS/EBS no longer need to be detached manually: the KKS connector on the fifth wheel and trailer detaches all the necessary electrical and pneumatic connections between the truck and trailer. For the coupling process, the driver raises the vehicle chassis to bring the fifth wheel coupling plate into contact with the trailer support plate. Equipped as standard, the support plate sensor indicates that the trailer plate is touching. Once this information is displayed on the KKS remote control, the truck is reversed until the king pin has securely engaged in the lock of the fifth wheel coupling and the mechanism closes. The position of the king pin and the correct locking of the fifth wheel coupling are also monitored by sensors and displayed to the driver on the KKS remote control. Together with the mechanical connection via the king pin, the KKS connector also automatically connects the air, electrics, ABS and EBS.
SAVE TIME AND MONEY Using a KKS can cut the time required to change a trailer by up to 50 percent, as there is no need to manually crank the landing gear, connect the supply lines or open the fifth wheel coupling. The KKS significantly reduces the total costs for each circuit, with savings of up to 50 percent possible during the coupling and uncoupling process. It is particularly well suited for transport companies which perform coupling processes often and drive short distances, such as those
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